Career
Although well known in New Zealand for the chain of butcheries he founded and is currently the brand ambassador of, Leitch is arguably just as well known for his charity, fundraising work and his promotion of rugby league. Born in Wellington, he left school at age 15 on account of dyslexia to work as a newspaper boy. He gained a job as a butcher"s apprentice in a Seatoun butchery at the age of 16, before later moving to Auckland.
In 1971, he opened a butchery in Rosella Road, Mangere East.
In 2012, "The Mad Butcher" butchery chain had 36 stores from Whangarei to Dunedin. Leitch is known for his work for charity and for his enthusiastic support of New Zealand rugby league, the Mangere East Hawks and the Warriors, which has increased the sport"s profile in New Zealand.
He managed the Kiwi"s victorious Tri-Nations campaign in late 2005. In recognition of his support of the Warriors the club have retired the #19 jersey in his honour.
The Mad Butcher Suburban Newspapers Community Trust is a fundraising vehicle he helped create to benefit charities.
Leitch is chairman of the trust, and the deputy chairman is David Penny, general manager of Fairfax Media Suburban Newspapers Auckland. He has also fundraised for Allergy New Zealand, Diabetes Auckland, the Prostate Cancer Foundation and Macular Degeneration New Zealand. He was voted the 41st most influential New Zealander by Listener Magazine in 2004.
He has a memorable way of talking, not unlike an auctioneer, that has caused various spoofs of "The Mad Butcher" that included the Radio Hauraki character "The Bad Mutcher" on the Morning Pirates and Pulp Sport formerly had a character named "The Mad Mad Butcher".
In his frequent radio advertisements, his voice rises to put the major stress and volume on the 99 cents which ends the price of each meat item advertised. Later that year he featured on the television One programme This is Your Life.
In 2008, Leith released his autobiography "What a Ride, Mate!: the Life and Times of the Mad Butcher", co-authored with Philosophy Gifford. 2008 was also the first year that the Peter Leitch QSM Challenge Trophy was contested.
In 2011 he was made patron of the New Zealand Rugby League, replacing Helen Clark.
